Nasalis muscle
Muscles of the head, face, and neck. (Nasalis labeled at center left.)
Latin	musculus nasalis
Gray's	subject #107 382
Origin	Maxilla
Insertion	Nasal bone
Artery
Nerve	Buccal branch of the facial nerve
Action	Compresses bridge, depresses tip of nose, elevates corners of nostrils

The nasalis (compressor naris) is a sphincter-like muscle of the nose whose function is to compress the nasal cartilage.

It consists of two parts, transverse and alar:

• The transverse part arises from the maxilla, above and lateral to the incisive fossa; its fibers proceed upward and medially, expanding into a thin aponeurosis which is continuous on the bridge of the nose with that of the muscle of the opposite side, and with the aponeurosis of the Procerus.

• The alar part is attached at one end to the greater alar cartilage, and at the other to the integument at the point of the nose.

Other sources divide it into "Compressor nasalis" and "Dilator nasalis".¹

Additional images

Left maxilla. Outer surface.

References

1. ^ -1945763781 at GPnotebook

External links

• Nasalis+muscle at eMedicine Dictionary
• Interactive diagram at ivy-rose.co.uk

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